1.
Are there any special programs for which this medical school is noted?
RWJ offers a distinction in research program as well as a distinction in community service program.
2. Describe this school's curriculum in the pre-clinical and clinical years. Are there any innovations, like Problem-Based Learning?
The pre-clinical years are mostly subject based. We have classes in the usual med school courses, such as Gross Anatomy, Histology, Biochem, Genetics, Pathology, Medicine, Psychiatry, ect. There is also a new class that spans the entire first two years that is a combination of physical diagnosis, ethics, epidemiology and actual patient contact.
In the Camden program, there is special course during the third year. Every Wednesday we are relieved from our clerkships at 2 pm. From 2 - 8 pm, we are scheduled different lectures and are allowed to go off and run our student run clinics, as well as get involved in a variety of community service projects (such as teaching CPR, mentoring kids, ect.)
3. Are there opportunities for students to design, conduct, and publish their own research?
Yes. I was a participant in the Students Interested in Research (SIR) Elective. The way it works is that you join a lab during the second semester of your first year to plan a research project for the summer. If you are selected, you recieve a 2700$ stipend for the summer and get to present your results at the annual Poster Day. There are also opportunities to do research outside of SIR.
4. Is there a note-taking service? If so, is it university-run or student-run?
During my first two years, there was no offical note-taking service. That being said, the students got together and scribed many of the lectures in our core classes and passed them out to the entire student body. Every lecturer also provides the powerpoint slides to each lecture, and we also have the audio to each lecture available online.
5. Is there flexibility in the coursework (the number of electives) and the timing of the courses (accelerating, decelerating, and time off) during the pre-clinical and clinical years?
Yes. A few students that were in my class have deceled. RWJ also offers a student scholars program, that allows you take time off as long as you are doing something scholarly. Many of my classmates have gone off to do research, or go to the NIH.
6. Has this medical school, or any of its clinical departments, been on probation or had its accreditation revoked?
Not that I know of. Of course everyone knows about the UMDNJ scandal, but that has had no effect on student education.
7. How do students from this medical school perform on the National Board Examinations? How does the school assist students who do not pass?
I honestly have no clue. They do not tell us how we do on the USMLE. I don't know of any of my classmates who have failed the exam, therefore I can not tell you how they assist those who do not pass.
Evaluations
8. How are students evaluated academically? How are clinical evaluations performed?
I'm pretty sure that the new entering class with now be pass/fail for their first two years. When I was a first year, we had Honors/high pass/pass/low pass/fail. It really wasn't as bad as you might think. The classes were not curved, so your grade was your grade.
The last two years are still graded on the five letter scale. Basically, all of the attendings that you work with fill out an evaluation on you. The shelf exam can count anywhere from 20% of your grade, up to 60% of your grade depending on the rotation.
9. Is there a formal mechanism in place for students to evaluate their professors and attending physicians? What changes have been made recently as a result of this feedback?
Yes. Course and clerkship feedback is required before we can access our grades. The Camden campus is excellent at making changes based on what the students have to say.
Counseling/Student Support
10. What kind of academic, personal, financial, and career counseling is available to students? Are these services also offered to their spouses and dependents/children?
The student affairs deans are there if you have academic/career concerns. There is a student wellness program that can help you handle any personal crises (they are also confidential). The financial aid office would handle any financial concerns. Also, there are occasional lectures on financial/career issues during lunch, or during the Camden Continuity of Care course.
11. Is there a mentor/advisor system? Who are the advisorsfaculty members, other students, or both?
Yes, you get assigned peer mentors (2nd year students) at the beginning of orientation during first year. They stick with you, answer any questions that you have, for the entire first year. You are also assigned a faculty advisor in the beginning of orientation.
After that, it is very easy to get in touch with faculty members in your area of interest. RWJ has a program called a "A Day in the Life" where you are excused from your classes/clerkship duties to go spend a day with a physician in any specialty you are interested in knowing more about.
12. How diverse is the student body? Are there support services or organizations for ethnic minorities and women?
Very diverse. There are groups for everyone. African American students, Hispanic students, Jewish students, women, Muslim students, Asian/Indian students, gay and lesbian students. I'm sure I'm missing some groups, but you get my point.
Facilities
13. Tell me about the library and extracurricular facilities (i.e., housing and athletic/recreational facilities).
The facilities are OK. There is no "real" library on the Piscataway campus, only a small media library, however we are on the Rutgers campus and are allowed to use their Science and Medicine library. The inside of the main building is kind of dull, not alot of windows, a little dreary. We have access to the Rutgers gym (for a fee) and the student center (they make good chinese food).
There is no housing provided. This isn't so bad though, Piscataway/NB is a college town, so there are plenty of places to live. Most students live in townhomes right next to the school, others choose to live in New Brunswick. I lived in NB for the first two years, and it was fine, but the traffic can get bad.
On the Camden campus, you also have to find your own housing. Half of the class lives in Philadelphia, the other half lives in South Jersey. No one lives in Camden, lol.
14. Are there computer facilities available to students? Are they integrated into the curriculum/learning?
There is a 24 hour computer area, and a more formal computer lab that closes at some point (not sure of hours).
On the Camden campus, there is a formal computer lab that is available 24 hours a day in the hospital, and a couple of computers in our student lounge.
15. What type of clinical sitesambulatory, private preceptors, private hospitals, rural settingsare available or required for clerkships? Does this school allow for students to do rotations at other institutions or internationally?
Since I'm on the Camden campus, I can only speak for my location. Most of the rotations are at Cooper University Hospital. We also spend time in outpatient offices across the street from the hospital, as well as other outpatient offices in South Jersey (esp. during family medicine). We are encouraged to do international electives, as well as electives at other schools.
16. Is a car necessary for clinical rotations? Is parking a problem?
Yes. A car is also necessary for the first two years. Parking is not a problem on the Camden campus.
Financial Aid
17. What is the current tuition and fees? Is this expected to increase yearly? If so, at what rate?
About 22,000 per year. Keep in mind this is not including fees, housing costs, personal expenses, ect. The tuition increases every year, for the most part. What school does not increase their tuition every year?
18. Are there stable levels of federal financial aid and substantial amounts of university/medical school endowment aid available to students?
You will be covered by federal loans. I have not recieved any grants or scholarships, but maybe I'm not special enough.
19. Are there students who have an "unmet need" factor in their budget? If so, where do these students come up with the extra funds?
I had to use loans to cover everything. The federal loans covered all of my expenses, I did not need any private loans.
20. Are spouses and dependents/children covered in a student's budget?
Sorry, but I don't know the answer to this.
21. Is someone available to assist students with budgeting and financial planning?
The financial aid office, I suppose.
22. Does this school provide guidance to its students, and to its graduates/alumni, on debt management?
I'm pretty sure they do. I know the fourth years have to go through a full day of exit counseling.
Student Involvement
23. What medical school committees (e.g., curriculum committee) have student representation?
There is a curriculum committee, a student rights person. Honestly, there are more, but I don't know them all.
24. Are students involved in (required or voluntary) community service?
YES! This is one of the strengths of the school! It is very easy to get involved with community service. During the first two years we have a organization called HIPHOP (the homeless and indigent population health outreach project) where you can get involved in blood pressure screenings, teaching high school students about HIV, working with patients with cancer, helping out pregnant moms, helping families who may have lead exposures and many more projects. There is also a student run clinic in NB.
In Camden, we have many student run clinics. We have an Adult HOP clinic, and Women's Hop Clinic, and a Peds Hop Clinic. All of these clinics are fully run by the students, with faculty coming in to oversee us. We also teach CPR to the community, mentor local high school and elementary kids, teach parents about important health topics at a local daycare. Just about every Camden student is involved in some kind of community service.
25. How active is the Student Council/Government? Are there other student organizations?
They are pretty active. There are alot of student organizations. I mentioned some in the diversity question. There are also organizations for just about every specialty imaginable, and also a global health club, AMSA, AMA, AMWA, ect.
Policies
26. Is there an established protocol for dealing with student exposure to infectious diseases? Is disability insurance provided to cover this exposure?
We are given a card that lists where we go if whe are exposed to anything. I'm not sure about disability insurance, but I know that we don't pay anything out of pocket.
27. Does this school provide, or does the student pay for, vaccinations against Hepatitis B or prophylactic AZT treatment in case of a needle-stick or accident?
Yes, they do pay for vaccinations. I'm pretty sure they also pay for treatment.
28. Is there a school Honor Code? Is there a grievance process/procedure? Are the students involved?
Yes, there is an honor code. In fact, we sign it before every test. There is also a grievance process/procedure, and I do believe there is a student rep.
Residency
29. May I see a list of residency programs to which this school's recent graduates were accepted?
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/admissions/our_students_match_list_2007.htm
If you go to the RWJMS website, there are additional match lists from previous years under the FAQ area.
Questions to Ask Yourself
30. Does this school have strengths in the type of medicine (primary versus specialized care, urban versus rural practice environment, academic medicine versus private practice) that I will want to practice?
Am I suppose to answer this?
I feel like every specialty is open to me as a RWJ graduate.
31. Would I be happy at this school (for at least the next four years)?
I'm pretty happy. Of course there are days I hate medicine, but I think I would feel that anywhere. The best thing I did was choosing the Camden campus!